Pope Francis tells teens ‘happiness not an app’

VATICAN CITY — Happiness is not an app you can download on your mobile phone, Pope Francis told thousands of teenagers on Sunday at a mass to mark a weekend dedicated to youth.

“Freedom is not always about doing what you want. In fact it is the gift of being able to choose the right way,” he said in a homily punctuated by regular bursts of applause from the crowd on a packed St Peter’s Square.

“Your happiness has no price. It cannot be bought and sold: it is not an application you download on a mobile phone. Even the latest version cannot help you to grow and become free in love.”

An estimated 70,000 teenagers were in Rome for a weekend of events to celebrate Francis’s Jubilee year dedicated to the theme of mercy.

In a surprise move on Saturday, the 79-year-old pontiff heard confessions from 16 of them and a video message from him was broadcast at a rock and rap concert in the Stadio Olimpico.

One of the teenagers chosen to confess to the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said she had been trembling as she approached the chair on which the pope was sitting in St. Peter’s Square.

“But as soon as I sat down I had the feeling of being next to a normal person rather than the pope. Francis is really one of us,” Anna Taibi, 15, told La Repubblica newspaper.

The Sicilian teenager said she had been touched by Francis’s tenderness as he listened to her confession.

“I expected him to give me a penance … instead he absolved me and let me go.”

The importance of mobile phones to contemporary teenagers was also reflected in Francis’s message to the concert.

Clutching an iPhone, he told his audience that living without Jesus was like not having any signal. “Always be sure to go where there is a network: family, parish, school,” he said.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Pope, thousands brave rain for Easter in St. Peter’s Square

VATICAN CITY — In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.

Cautious hope ran through Francis’ “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world’s affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

He had just celebrated Mass in rain-whipped St. Peter’s Square for tens of thousands of people.

Francis made his first public comments about the recent framework for an accord, reached in Lausanne, Switzerland, and aimed at ensuring Iran doesn’t develop a nuclear weapon.

“In hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.”

Decrying the plentitude of weapons in the world in general, Francis said: “And we ask for peace for this world subjected to arms dealers, who earn their living with the blood of men and women.”

He denounced “absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence” in Libya, convulsed by fighting fueled by tribal and militia rivalries. He hoped “a common desire for peace” would prevail in Yemen, wracked by civil warfare.

Francis prayed that the “roar of arms may cease” in Syria and Iraq, and that peace would come in Africa for Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Congo.

He recalled the young people, many of them targeted because they were Christians, killed last week in a Kenyan university, and lamented kidnappings, by Islamic extremists, that have plagued parts of Africa, including Nigeria.

On Good Friday, Francis chastised the international community for what he called the complicit silence about the killing of Christians. On Easter he prayed that God would alleviate “the suffering of so many of our brothers persecuted because of his name.”

During Mass, Francis was shielded from pelting rain by a canopy erected outside St. Peter’s Basilica, while prelates carried umbrellas in the yellow and white colors of the Vatican.

The downpour petered out to a drizzle, and by the ceremony, the rain had stopped. Francis, wearing a white overcoat, was driven through the square in the open-sided popemobile so he could wave to the faithful.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

John Paul relics abound: Bloodied shirt, unwashed fork…

ROME—Inside a chapel on the edge of Rome, a nun uses a key to open a wooden wall panel, revealing a hidden niche. Behind glass hangs a relic of holy suffering: the bullet-pocked, bloodstained undershirt John Paul II was wearing when a gunman shot him in the stomach in St. Peter’s Square.

The short-sleeved garment bears the initials “JP,” sewn in red cotton thread on the label by nuns who did his laundry.

Jagged rips run down from the neck and sides, made when emergency room staff tore open John Paul’s shirt as they raced to save his life.

It’s one of the most remarkable of the relics of John Paul, who will be declared a saint on Sunday in the very same square where a Turkish would-be assassin shot him on May 13, 1981.

Relics of John Paul have enjoyed a boom ever since the beloved Pope was beatified in 2011.

The phenomenon has been fueled by John Paul’s longtime Polish confidant and secretary, Stanislaw Dziwisz, who doles them out to churches that request them.

The famous undergarment was discovered by the head nurse in the operating room at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic as she was cleaning the floor.

Nurse Anna Stanghellini, who lived out her last years at the church’s convent, donated the shirt to the nuns there, bequeathing a vivid testimony to John Paul’s physical suffering.

John Paul was the world’s first globe-trotting Pope, and he left things associated with him scattered around the world.

Relics in Manila

The Manila area restaurant where John Paul dined during his 1995 pilgrimage to the Philippines shows off the spoon, fork, water goblet, knives and table napkin—all still unwashed after his meal of grilled fish and fried shrimp.

Elsewhere in the predominantly Catholic Asian nation, shopping malls this month are showing strands of his silvery-white hair and a piece of bedsheet from his deathbed.

Irish Julia Feniquito, a 24-year-old nurse in  Quezon City, was still wearing her blue scrubs and looking to buy a dress when she passed by a traveling exhibit of John Paul relics in one shopping mall.

She kneeled to pray for several minutes in front of a makeshift altar and wrote her reflections on a sheet of paper, which she slipped into a box

under a papal skull cap.

“His aura, when you first see him, you can tell that he is very holy,” Feniquito said.

Papal blood

“John Paul II probably has stuff all over the place,” considering he was the third-longest serving Pontiff, said the Rev. Raymond Kupke, a professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. “If you think of all the places he has been to, the amount of relics is enormous.”

A tiny church in Naples packed its pews for nine days earlier this year when it displayed a gold-covered reliquary containing a drop of papal blood drawn for analysis from John Paul on his last day on Earth.

For the faithful, it’s a profoundly moving testament to the Pope’s courage in the face of death and suffering.

“This was the last blood taken from the Holy Father, his last day of life,” said the Rev. Jonas Gianneo, pastor of Santa Maria Francesca delle Cinque Piaghe church.

The pastor said the drop came from a vial of blood saved by Dziwisz, now cardinal of Krakow.



Selling relics sacrilegious 


Amid the proliferation of John Paul relics, Vatican experts say, it’s important to make key distinctions: Relics are categorized by the Vatican as “first-class” (those that are part of the saint’s body, such as bones or blood), “second-class” (items owned or used by a saint) and “third-class” (mostly things that were touched by the saint).

Selling relics is sacrilegious—but nothing stops the faithful from making a “donation” to whoever provided the relic, or purchasing the often ornate container holding the relic itself. AP

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Pope says atheists can be moral like Catholics

ROME—Pope Francis on Wednesday said atheists could take moral decisions just like religious people, in an unprecedented letter to a leftwing Italian daily—his latest attempt to reach out to non-believers.

“God’s mercy has no limits if we turn to Him with a sincere and contrite heart,” the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said in a missive published in La Repubblica by its founder Eugenio Scalfari.

“The question for people who do not believe in God is to listen to their consciences. Also for those without faith, sin is going against your conscience,” he said.

“Listening to it and obeying it means making up one’s mind about what is good and evil,” he added.

The letter was the 76-year-old pope’s reply to questions posed in the newspaper in July and August by Scalfari, who had admitted to not believing in God.

Since being elected in March, the Argentine pope has repeatedly said he wants his words to be heard by faithful from other religions and non-believers.

During a blessing in St. Peter’s Square in May, Francis said non-believers could be redeemed just like Catholics—an unusual message that was quickly denied by a Vatican spokesman who said that anyone who refuses the Catholic Church “cannot be saved.”

“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ. All of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!” the pope said in his address in May.

“We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there,” he said.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII may be canonized Dec. 8

After Pope Francis approved the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII, a buzz emerged from Rome that the canonization date might take place on Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception.  If this is true, how blessed we are that the canonization of the two popes will fall on a very important feast of the Mother of God.

Since the news came out, I have been praying to Blessed John Paul to intercede for the healing of June Keithley, whom I saw in Rome on May 1, 2011, during the beatification ceremonies. She is very devoted to Blessed John Paul II and to Mama Mary, of course, about whom she wrote about under her title, Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace, in her book on the Lipa apparitions.

Very popular

The canonization will be a historic  day for 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. The two very popular popes in contemporary times contributed hugely to Church and global history.

Pope John Paul II was the most traveled pope in history. He also beatified and canonized the most number of saints and martyrs. The ebullient, down-to-earth Pope John XXIII launched the Second Vatican Council  to introduce reforms in the Catholic Church.

Adam’s Express Travel sent large delegations to the canonizations of Josemaria Escriva on Oct. 6, 2002, and Sister Faustina in 2011, and the beatification of Mother Teresa and Blessed Pope John Paul II in 2011.  Although there is no official canonization date yet, Adams Travel encourages pilgrims to reserve ahead because millions are expected to attend the canonization. Call Adam’s at 5223876 or 5211651 or text Anna Ayo at 0917-5514468.

Legion of Mary is 73


The Legion of Mary will celebrate its 73rd anniversary in the Philippines with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Senatus of the Northern Philippines headquarters at Dangay Street, QC, on July 21, 11 a.m., with Msgr. Celso Ditan, spiritual director, as Mass presider.

In addition, the Senatus will sponsor the first Friday Mass and vigil, with Sangguniang Layko ng Pilipinas, on Aug. 2 at the CBCP Chapel in Intramuros, Manila. Vigil will be at 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mass at CBCP Chapel will be at 12 noon.

The Legion of Mary was founded by Servant of God Frank Duff on Sept. 7, 1921, in Dublin, Ireland. It is a lay apostolic organization serving the Church under ecclesiastical guidance.

Frank Duff passed away on Nov. 7, 1980, and the cause of his canonization was introduced by Dublin Archbishop Desmond Connell  in 1996.

An alleged miracle interceded by Frank Duff on the healing of John David Arcega has been submitted to the Dublin church. It will be one of the miracles to be submitted to Rome. John David is now back in school after he recovered from his illness.

Those who want estampitas can write to me c/o Phil. Daily Inquirer at Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for easier mailing.

St. Mary Magdalene fiesta


Thanks to Mila Que, I became devoted to St. Mary Magdalene, patroness of Kawit, Cavite, whose feast day falls on July 22.

I met Jovita Peregrina  who survived cancer through the intercession of  the saint.

Now, Aling Jovita is taking care of the image especially during the novena and fiesta Masses.

Imus Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista will officiate the concelebrated Mass  tomorrow, 9 a.m.  Masses in the afternoon are at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.  Fr. Romeo Ner is the parish priest.

In the parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Amadeo, Cavite, Fr. Oliver Genuino, parish priest, will lead the celebration of the fiesta tomorrow.

Bishop Evangelista will say Mass at 4 p.m.

I visited this church before Holy Week this year and was impressed by the beautiful image of the saint enthroned on the left side of the altar.

Father Genuino expressed the opinion that Mary Magdalene was not the adulterous woman about to be stoned for her sin, whom Jesus forgave. Neither was she the prostitute who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and rubbed them with expensive oil in the house of Simon, the Pharisee.

Feast of St. Anne

I became devoted to St. Anne, the mother of Mary, way back in 1981. I had achalasia and I remember placing her prayer near my bed in PGH where I was confined at the time.

I still pray to her, especially when I visit Sta. Ana Church during the feast of Our Lady of the Abandoned. On July 26, Masses in her honor will be said there at 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., and 6:30 p.m.

Try to seek her intercession; especially pray to her and St. Joachim every Tuesday before 9 a.m. and say “St. Anne and St. Joachim, please grant me a pleasant surprise today.”

This prayer was taught to me by the late Albert Seeland, manager of Tempura Misono in the old Hyatt Hotel. Please pray for the repose of Albert Seeland’s soul on Aug. 13, his birth anniversary.

St. Martha fiesta


We who hear Mass at Harrison Plaza Chapel are blessed to have the image of St. Martha there.  The chapel is named after her.  Every Tuesday,  devotees come to pray to her and  click the light in front of her.

The feast of St. Martha falls on July 29. It is also celebrated in Pateros, Rizal.   Her miraculous image is enshrined there in San Roque Church.  Fr. Roy Rosales is the parish priest.

St. James the Apostle feast


The feast of St. James the Apostle  (called Santiago de Compostela in Spain) falls on July 25, Thursday. Fr. Manny Domingo, SDB, will celebrate Holy Mass at 6 p.m. in Don Bosco Chapel on Pasay Road, Makati. St. James is also the patron saint of Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, and Bolinao, Pangasinan.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Radwanska dropped by Catholic youth over nude spread

WARSAW — World number four Agnieszka Radwanska has been dropped by a Catholic youth movement in her native Poland for posing nude in the “Body Issue” of ESPN Magazine.

Radwanska, 24, who makes no secret of her strong Catholic faith, is photographed in profile without a stitch, sitting in a lawn chair by a pool filled with tennis balls.

While not explicit, the nude has proven too much for a Catholic group known as Krucjata Mlodych (Youth Crusade), which runs a campaign dubbed “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.”

The young Catholics, who claim more than a million followers, dropped Radwanska last week for what they said was “immoral behavior” in the ESPN spread, which can be seen at espn.go.com/espn/bodyissue.

This year’s beaten Wimbledon semi-finalist previously appeared in a television commercial sponsored by the group in which she spelled out the word “Jesus” with tennis balls and urged young Poles not to be ashamed of their faith.

Other athletes in the buff in the special issue include Puerto Rican motocross champ Tarah Gieger and nine-time major golf champion Gary Player, the oldest model at 77.

Home to the former pope, John Paul II, Poland remains one of Europe’s most devout nations.

More than 90 percent of the population declares itself Roman Catholic.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Italian journalist says new pope called her first

ROME—Just hours after his dramatic election as leader of the Catholic world, an Italian journalist in Rome said the first thing Pope Francis did was to call her up for a friendly chat.

“The phone rang… My son picked it up and it was the pope,” Stefania Falasca, a former editor for a Catholic monthly, told Italian media.

“At home we just called him ‘father’, we never called him ‘eminence.’ I didn’t know what to say. I asked him ‘Father, what am I meant to call you? Holy Father?’” she said.

“He laughed and he told me ‘The first phone call I wanted to make was to say hello to you, Gianni and the kids,’” she said.

Falasca is married to Gianni Valente, who is also a journalist, Italy’s ANSA news agency reported.

Francis, formerly archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has already made his mark in Rome with his informal style.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Black smoke over Vatican: No new pope yet

VATICAN CITY— Black smoke is billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning Roman Catholic cardinals have not elected a pope in their second or third rounds of balloting.

Cardinals voted twice Wednesday in Michelangelo’s famed frescoed chapel after a first vote Tuesday in a conclave to elect a successor to Benedict XVI, who stunned the Catholic world last month by becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign.

The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month, throwing the church into turmoil and exposing deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a manager to clean up a corrupt Vatican bureaucracy as well as a pastor who can revive Catholicism in a time of growing secularism.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Benedict begins final day as pope before retiring

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is beginning a final quiet day as pontiff, meeting with his cardinals before flying off into retirement.

No major speech is expected during his morning farewell Thursday with his closest advisers, just a simple greeting to each one inside the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Benedict will leave the palace for the last time as pope, head to the helipad on the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly by helicopter to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

And there, at 8 p.m. — the exact moment Benedict’s resignation goes into effect — the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the pope now finished.

source:  newsinfo.inquirer.net